These Sports Bras With Pockets Solve All Your Storage Problems
Stash your credit card, phone, and recovery essentials where you know they won't get lost.
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. You Need This Comfy Aday Fast Forward Bra?
There’s a lot to consider when buying a sports bra: support, fabric, comfort, coverage. However, there's one thing you probably haven’t thought of: pockets. But you should. The perfectly placed pocket answers an age-old running question: Where do I stow my stuff?
While armbands, running belts, and hydration packs all have their place, runners are nothing if not particular about our gear. Some swear armbands throw them off balance, while others hate the idea of a bag bouncing on their back or waist. And most of us really hate carrying things in our hands. If you wear a sports bra and you don’t mind doing some finagling with your small items, a model with built-in pockets is a stellar solution.
A sports bra’s compressive, next-to-skin fit provides naturally secure storage for small items, even without closures. We carry everything from our phone to keys to credit card to gels in the pockets, and have tested them on runs in a range of intensities and durations.
Here are our top picks for the year in varying styles, fits, and pocket placements.
The Best Sports Bras With Pockets
- Best Overall: Does the Knix Catalyst Truly Provide Max Support
- Best High-Coverage: Maximum coverage for versatile styling
- Best Medium-Impact: Miles of Ultra-Running Created this Bra
- Best Value: Medium Support Back Pocket Energy Sport Bra
- Best Racerback: Janji Ascend Sports Bra
What to Consider
Where Do You Want the Pockets?
The pockets in sports bras come in a few different places: a slide-in pocket built into the band under your arm, a drop-in pocket in the front, or a drop-in pocket in the back. Where you put your items is up to you, but if the thought of added chest-bounce sounds awful, opt for a pocket in the back instead of the chest. If you’re carrying small items like a credit card and an energy gel, a slide-in pocket in the side will work well and keep small items secure. If you’re doing a lower impact workout, you can probably put your phone in a front pocket and not worry about bounce. In general we tend to put our phones in the back pocket and a key, card / cash, or gels in the front or side pockets.
What Style Bra Do You Want?
If you need more support, look for a higher-impact model with fuller coverage, and if you want longer term comfort, we have some low-impact models comfortable for all-day wear. Racerbacks with wider backs will offer more support, and higher coverage in the front can help minimize bounce as well. Most of the bras on our list are racerbacks simply because many have built-in back pockets, and a racerback is conducive to rear pocket placement, but we also appreciate the support distribution of this style. You can also vary the support and comfort by sizing up for more casual all-day wear.
Is it Safe to Store Your Phone in Your Bra Pocket?
Some of us are concerned that storing your phone in your bra can heighten your chances of getting breast cancer. According to Diana Medgyesy, M.D., a medical oncologist at UCHealth in Fort Collins, Colorado, the evidence says it doesn’t. “There is no conclusive data to suggest that cell phones are linked to cancer,” she said. “It is most likely an evolving field since cell phone technology and use of cell phones are changing rapidly.”
Use your own discretion on whether or not to run with one.
How We Selected
Sports bras with pockets come in a variety of styles, so we looked for a range of storage options, support levels, and coverages. The bras below were vetted by our staff and team of local wear-testers of various bra sizes and running levels. They packed phones, keys, fuel, credit cards, and/or cash into the bras’ pockets as they logged their runs and engaged in intensive cross-training activities.
We tested these bras during runs of varying intensity from the dry Rockies to the humid Northeast. We also wore them while running errands before or after our runs and were psyched on the convenience, even if pulling keys and a credit card out of the bra elicited some weird looks. We looked for options with minimal racerbacks, broad-coverage backs, varying support for different cup sizes, and different compression levels for all types of activities, runs, and workouts.
Read more: The Best Running Bras for Large Breasts, The Best High Impact Sports Bras for Running, The Three convenient pockets
Pros
- Highly wicking
- at Brooks Running
Cons
- Not enough support for D cups and up
The Allston gets our top marks for the year as an excellent all-around bra for daily wear as well as longer runs. It has an easy-to-reach hidden chest pocket that can stash keys, cards, cash, and/or your phone.
The bra’s band is brushed with Inverno Blend lining, an Italian micro-nylon and elastane mix that pulls away moisture and is wool-soft. This is the same blend used in Tracksmith’s Allston tights, and feels just compressive enough for support without being too constricting for comfort during long runs.
While the rectangular outline was obvious, our tester appreciated how easy it was to grab her iPhone mid-run. We experienced no chafing during our test period, even in the high humidity and mid-80’s temps of mid-summer on the East Coast.
It has plenty of top-to-bottom coverage that feels like enough space for A- to C-cups, though people with cups sizes larger than that might want a bra with more support.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XS-L |
| Colors | 4 |
| Materials | Nylon, elastane |
Maximum coverage for versatile styling
Pros
- You Need This Comfy Aday Fast Forward Bra
- Three convenient pockets
Cons
- Can be tricky to take on and off
Perfect for people engaging in higher impact activity or with larger breasts, this compression bra from Brooks helps keep everything in place and prevents uncomfortable bouncing. It’s also convenient, with three pockets that we stuffed gels, a credit card, a house key, and a phone into without feeling extra bulk.
The phone slots nicely into the deep mid-back pocket, and the small pockets on either side were perfect for a credit card, gel, and a key. We found this to be ideal for long-distance training when we need to stock up on gels or keep a credit card handy for mid-run fueling stops, or when we don’t want to carry a handheld but need to stop by a store after the run.
Brooks does an excellent job with its full-coverage bras for larger breasts (the Dare is one of our all-time favorites) and this model is no exception. It has friction-free bonded seams that kept us chafe-free and comfortable, as well as removable cups.
Brooks calls this medium support, but we found the design and coverage to provide a high level of support. Our only critique is that it feels a little tough to take on and off, especially when we are still sweaty from the run.
Key Specs
| Sizes | 32-40 Health - Injuries |
| Colors | 6 |
| Materials | Nylon, elastane |
Miles of Ultra-Running Created this Bra
Pros
- Supportive for moderate workouts without too much compression
- Straps may be uncomfortable for some
Cons
- Straps may be uncomfortable for some
Finally, a sports bra with a back phone pocket that’s not hard to reach when it comes to dropping in/taking out your smartphone. One of our testers said she loved how Rabbit’s pocket cradled her phone, as opposed to the too snug, too thick compartments often found in sports bras with a similar design. This made it easier for her to grab the phone on the move without contorting into a variety of yoga poses, and it still felt secure enough that she wasn’t worried about it bouncing out.
That same tester, who is a 36D, found she could only wear the bra for short workouts, however. The straps are fairly thin, and dug into her shoulders leaving “not-so-cute” red lines. This may be a support issue, though.
Another tester, who is a 32D, didn’t experience any skin indentations after her runs, so we encourage you to try this bra for a variety of different workouts and distances and determine for yourself where the comfort levels are.
We were stoked on the just-enough compression that didn’t feel suffocating but was supportive enough for moderate-level workouts and runs.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XS-XL |
| Colors | 2 |
| Materials | Polyester, spandex |
Pros
- Versatile support
- Wide color range
Cons
- Easy to access phone in back
Sports bras are expensive, but we’ve been continually impressed with all of our value picks across the category. We included this one on our list for its bargain price and five-star reviews, as well as the versatile medium impact that provides support for A to D cups. The back pocket is easy to reach and can store your smartphone. And if you’re wearing wired headphones on your next run, you can thread the cords through a bonded eyelet above the pocket.
The soft cotton-like material leaves no indentations on the shoulders, and the high neckline provides extra coverage. This bra is easy to take on and off, doesn’t lose its shape after multiple wears, and comes in a variety of fun colorways.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XS-XXL |
| Colors | 26 |
| Materials | Nylon, spandex |
Pros
- Higher cut can push up under arms
- Excellent size range
Cons
- Janji bras can run small, size up if you’re between sizes
Janji has made multiple stellar pocket bras over the past few seasons. Several of our favorites have (at least temporarily) been discontinued, but the Ascend is still in-line, and has a sleek design with moderate compression and support for a range of cup sizes thanks to the triple-layer band that minimized bounce without digging into our shoulders.
The back pocket holds a phone securely during high-impact runs, and is easy to access without turning into a contortionist. Those with larger cup sizes might appreciate more compression, but we found that the range of sizes offers plenty of options for a near-custom fit.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a more comfortable everyday bra, we recommend sizing up. If you’d like a more compressive fit for high-impact workouts, go with your normal size. That said, we’ve found Janji to run a little small, so don’t size down.
This bra uses the brand’s Groundwork material, which is smooth next to skin and uses a double-layer for compression and modesty.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XXS-3XL |
| Colors | 4 |
| Materials | Nylon, elastane |
Pros
- Sleek racerback design
- band, AB-DDE cups
Cons
- Finally! An Adjustable Tracksmith Sports Bra
Another reasonably priced bra, this Adidas option has a secure front pocket that we felt almost no bounce from, even when we stashed our phone in there for a longer run. The front pocket sits slightly off to the side under the shoulder strap, curving around the front of the bra and protected by two layers of material on the inside. The top of the pocket is reinforced as well, helping hold small items and even a phone in place without feeling extra bounce.
This material is stretchier than other blends, so you can vary your sizing depending on how much compression you want. We have this in two sizes, a smaller size for more support during higher intensity workouts, and one size larger for all-day wear or more laid-back workouts.
Key Specs
| Sizes | XXS-XXL |
| Colors | 3 |
| Materials | Polyester, elastane |
Pros
- Deep, secure phone pocket
- Maximum coverage for versatile styling
Cons
- Higher cut can push up under arms
Oiselle’s Flyout Bra provides the right amount of compression for support without feeling too tight, and we’ve found the numeric sizing helps the fit of its bras stay right on point. The style has wide, thick straps that don’t create red marks after long wear, and the chest band is wide and smooth.
The phone pocket is between the shoulder blades, and we were able to easily grab it by reaching overhead. And when we don’t need our phone, the bra is fitted so well we never felt any extra bounce or worried about it falling out.
Oiselle’s proprietary “Power Plya” material is soft and has almost a brushed knit feel on the inside, but doesn’t get oversaturated with sweat during hot runs. We also love the wide back coverage here, which lets us wear this as a crop top as well as a sports bra without worrying about exposing too much on our runs or errands.
Key Specs
| Sizes | 2-14 |
| Colors | 4 |
| Materials | Polyester, spandex |
Maggie Slepian is a full-time freelance writer in the outdoor industry and has tested gear professionally for almost ten years—she is an avid backpacker, trail runner, bikepacker, and horseback rider and has thru-hiked thousands of miles on the Appalachian, Colorado, and Ouachita trails, along with backcountry travel on terrain including coastal trails, the desert, and high alpine peaks. Maggie has written for New York Magazine, Huffington Post, REI, and Outside. She is a columnist with Backpacker Magazine and is the co-founder of BackpackingRoutes.com. Contact her at MaggieSlepian.com.
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
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